Itinerary - Rediscovering Hellenic Civilization at its Core

June 6 – 17, 2003

ATHENS, GREECE
Upon arrival in Athens, transfer to the Hotel Grande Bretagne, centrally located in Constitution Square. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax after the flight or to start your discovery of this ancient city. This evening, enjoy a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel.

(Meals: D)

ATHENS | ELEUSIS | CORINTH | NEMEA | NAUPLION
Depart from Athens this morning, stopping at Eleusis. Founded on the slopes of a hill around 2000 B.C., during the Mycenaean era it developed into a large fortified settlement. In the eighth century Eleusis developed its panhellenic character and began to host the Eleusinian Mysteries, one of the most important Athenian festivals.

Next visit Corinth, once a chief trading city which owed its stature to its physical location. The remains of the city are perched on a plateau and date from the Greek and Roman periods. See the archaic Temple of Apollo dating to the sixth century B.C., the fifth-century B.C. theater, and the adjoining odeon, built by the Romans in the 1st century and used as an arena. Continue to Nemea—which has been intermittently occupied since prehistoric times—and enjoy lunch before we visit the site. Similar to Olympia and Delphi, the Temple of Zeus dominates the sanctuary at Nemea, which stands at the center of the sacred area. The annual athletic and religious festivals that the ancient Greeks celebrated, and that were the precursors to the modern Olympics, took place at Nemea in addition to those at Delphi, Olympia, and Isthmia. For a brief period each year at one of these four sites, wars and hostilities were suspended by a sacred truce, and all Greeks gathered in recognition of their common humanity.

Then, drive to Nauplion, a quaint medieval town, and check in to the Amphitrion Hotel. Enjoy dinner at the hotel tonight.

(B, L, D)

NAUPLION | TIRYNS | ARGIVE HERAION | MYCENAE | NAUPLION
Nauplion serves as our departure point for excursions to Tiryns and Mycenae, two celebrated centers of the Mycenaean civilization that flourished 4,500 years ago. First, travel to Homer's "wall-girt" city of Tiryns (atop a rocky summit), where the imposing, massive walls of red and gray limestone still stand 3,400 years after they were built. Inside the battlements is the palace with its galleries, throne room, courtyards, a sacrificial altar, and new excavations of Bronze Age sites.

Next stop at Argive Heraion, the Sanctuary of Hera, dedicated to the guardian goddess of the Argolid (and Zeus's long-suffering wife.) The seldom-visited complex, with ruins built between the 7th and 4th centuries B.C and discovered in 1831, commands a superb view over the plain to Argos. After lunch this afternoon, continue to Mycenae, the traditional home of Agamemnon, which Homer called “rich in gold.” In 1876, archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered chamber tombs filled with golden treasures here. We will enter through the dramatic Lion Gate, which leads to the acropolis and the ruins of the Royal Palace. Just outside of the main site is the Treasury of Atreus, an exquisite monument from the Bronze Age.

Return to Nauplion, where you enjoy dinner on your own this evening.

(B, L)

NAUPLION | EPIDAURUS | NAUPLION
This morning our excursion leads to Epidaurus, the ancient shrine of the god of medicine Asklepios. Attracted by the miraculous powers of both medicine and drama, legions were drawn to this enchanting site. Its ruins are dominated by the fourth-century theater, one of the best-preserved Classical buildings in Greece, which features unusually perfect acoustics—the slightest whisper or coin drop from the orchestra is clearly audible from all of its 14,000 seats.

After lunch at a local restaurant, return to Nauplion and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. For those interested, there will be an opportunity for a refreshing swim at a nearby beach.

Dinner this evening is at the hotel.

(B, L, D)

NAUPLION | SPARTA | MISTRA | MENELAION | PYLOS
Depart Nauplion this morning for the ancient town of Sparta, from where we take an excursion to Mistra, a complete Byzantine town facing ancient and modern Sparta, and often described as the Byzantine Pompeii. Mistra was the former seat of the Despotate of the Morea who occupied Mistra until 1460 and the ruins here are extensive. We will visit the Palace of the Despots, an impregnable fortress built in 1249 and the last home of the emperor, and the well-restored Cathedral famous for its fine medieval frescoes.

Also tour the Pantanassa Convent, which is inhabited by nuns, the only people still occupying the city today. After lunch at local restaurant stop at Menelaion, a shrine dedicated to Menelaos and Helen, built on the hill of Profitis Ilias about 5 kilometers southeast of Sparta. From here, travel to Pylos, a beautiful town guarded by two medieval castles, built on the head of spacious Navarino Bay.

Check in to the Karalis Hotel, our accommodations for tonight. Dinner is on your own this evening.

(B, L)